The
Saint Bernard is a very large, strong,
muscular dog, with a powerful head. As
long as the weight stays in proportion
with the height, the taller the dog the
more prized. There are two types of coat:
rough, and smooth, but both are very dense
and come in white with markings in tan,
red, mahogany, brindle, and black - in
various combinations. The face and ears
are usually shaded with black and the
expression is intelligent and gentle.
In the rough-coated dogs, the hair is
slightly longer and there is feathering
on the thighs and legs. The feet are large
with strong well-arched toes, making the
Saint Bernard's sure-footed in the snow
and ice. They have a highly developed
sense of smell and also seem to have a
sixth sense about impending danger from
storms and avalanches.
Temperament
They
are extremely gentle and friendly and
very tolerant of children. The Saint Bernard
is slow moving, patient, and obedient.
Extremely loyal, this breed wants to please. Since
this dog is so giant, be sure to socialize
it very well at a young age with other
people. It is highly intelligent and easy
to train, however training should begin
early, while the dog is still a manageable
size. Bear in mind that an unruly dog
of this size presents a problem for even
a strong adult if it is to be exercised
in public areas on a leash, so take control
from the onset. The Saint Bernard is a
good watchdog. Even its size is a good
deterrent. They drool after they drink
or eat.
Good
health but some are prone to "wobbler"
syndrome, heart problems, skin problems,
hip dysplasia, and extropion - a folding
outward of the eyelid rim, usually on
the lower lid. Twisted stomachs should
be watched for. As these dogs are prone
to bloat, it is best to feed them two
or three small meals a day instead of
one large meal.
Living
Conditions
The
Saint Bernard will do okay in an apartment
if it is sufficiently exercised. They
are relatively inactive indoors and a
small yard is sufficient. They can live
outdoors, but would much rather be with
their family. They have a low tolerance
for hot weather, warm rooms, and cars.
Exercise
A
long walk each day is needed to keep the Saint Bernard
in good mental and physical condition.
Puppies should not have too much exercise
at one time until their bones are well
formed and strong. Short walks and brief play
sessions are best until the dog is about
two years old.
Life
Expectancy
About
8-10 years.
Grooming
Both
types of coats are easy to groom. Comb
and brush with a firm bristle brush, and
bathe only when necessary. Shampoo may
strip the coat of its oily, water-resistant
properties, so use a mild soap. The eyes,
which may be inclined to water, need special
attention to keep them clean and free
of irritants. This breed sheds twice a
year.
Origin
This
is a very ancient breed. It was founded
in AD 980 by St Bernard de Menthon
as a refuge for travelers through the
perilous Alpine pass between Switzerland
and Italy. It is descended from the Tibetan
mastiff and therefore must have originated
with the mastiff brought to the Alps by
the Romans around the year 1000. The monks
probably crossed the ancient mastiff with
the Great Dane and the Great Pyrenees.
Its use and popularity as a rescue dog
began in the middle of the seventeenth
century. The Saint Bernard was used as
an avalanche and rescue dog in the snowy
passes near the Hospice. More then 2,000
people have been saved by this amazing
servant of mankind. The dogs search out
and find the lost or injured traveler,
and then lick him and lie next to him
to give him warmth. Then one dog from
the party heads back to the Hospice to
get a full rescue team. The Saint Bernard's
sense of smell is so excellent that he
can find a person even under many feet
of snow. This breed is also known for
his ability to foretell storms and avalanches,
perhaps because he may hear very low frequency
sounds that are beyond our ability to
hear. There are two varieties: short-haired
and long-haired. The short-haired variety
is more often used for mountain work because
he can tolerate cold temperatures. The
long-haired variety's coat tends to collect
icicles. Some of the Saint Bernard's talents
are search & rescue, watchdogging
and carting.
